Target-trap.



J. A. GRENSHAW.

TARGET TRAP. APPLICATION FILED AUG. ze, 190s.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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J. A. CRENSHAW.

TARGET TRASP.

APPLIoATloN iILBD AUG. ze. 190s.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

ttoznujo Wilmeooeo JOHN A. ORENSHAW, OF COLEMAN, FLORIDA.

TARGET-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented April 13, 1909.

Application led August 26, 1908. Serial No. 456,385.

To all whom it may concern;

citizen of the United States, residing at Coleman7 in the county otSumter and State of lllorida, have invented a new and useful r, Ylargetirap, ot which tne following 1s a specification.

rfhisunvention relates to target traps oi that general class especiallydesigned for throwing or sailing clay pigeons and used hy Sportsmen,sharp-shooters and other persons practicing niarlrinanship,

strong, durable and thoroughly eflicient trap of the character descriledin which a single spring is employed for actuating 'the target throwingarni.

A further object is to provide a target trap including a supportingtraine mounted for i rotation on a hase or standard and having atensioning device Journaled thereon and operatively connected with thethrowing arm for actuating the latter when the latch mecho anisin 1sreleased.

A further object 1s to provide pivoted lookin@1 lever one end oi winchextends in the 1 s patn oi movement ol' tue throwing arm, wnne theopposite end thereof engages an adjustihle stop on the pulley ortensioningV device for maintaining trie power spring under tension, saidlocking lever heing actuated ny engagement with the throwing arin torelease the tensioning device.

A furtherV object is to provide iniproved means for setting the trap,the operating lever oi' the setting mechanism also serving to actuate the latch releasing mechanism.

A still further object et the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices so as to increase their utility, durahiiity andefficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description7it heing understood that various changes in torni, proportions andniinor details of construction may he resorted to within the scope olthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a side elevation oi' a target trap constructed in accordancewith iny invention, showing the throwing arrn in position to receive aclay pigeon or target. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ot Fig. 1. Fig.

v 'l 4 is a detail perspective view ot a portion ot Be it known that l,JOHN A.. Onnxsnxw, al

the wheel or pulley showing the inanner of mounting the segmental stopplate in position thereon. l; ig. 5 is a side elevation of the operatinglever and its associated parts.

llig. is a transverse sectional view taken on the line (5-6 of liig. 5and loolaing in the direction ot the arrow. ig. 7 is a detail transversesectional view taken on the line 77 oi'- Similar nuinerals ol' referenceindicate cor- E respondino parts in all of the iigures oi the The ohiectol the invention 1s to provide a drawin gs.

'lfhe improved target trap 'lorining the suh- `11e-ct inatter ol' thepresent invention coinprises a base or support 5 upon which is mountedfor rotation a standard 6, the latter having its upper end hil'urcatedto torni spaced ears between which is pivotally inounted an adjustablesupporting trarne carrying the target throwing arin and its associatedparts.

The supporting 'traine comprises spaced parallel arins 7 and 8 to oneol' which is secured a segment 9, the l'ree end ot which passes througha slot 1G in the standard 6 and lorins a. guide for the tiltingsupporting i'ranie when the latter is adjusted vertically oi' thestandard, said traine hein g loched in adjusted position hy a clampingscrew or similar fastening device 1 1 extending through. the standardand hearing against the segnient 9, as hest shown in. Fig. 1 oi' thedrawings.

One end of the pivot holt 12- is extended laterally and provided with anoperating handle 13 by means oi' which the lree end ol the supporting'traine inay be raised or lowered. Journaled in suitable bearings in thearnis 8 and 7 is a shaft 14 having its intermediate portion bentlaterally to l'orni a cranl; arin 15 and to which is secured theadjacent end oi' a coiled spring 16, the opposite end ol the spring 16being secured to a pin 17 depending iroin a tensioning device or pulley18. Se cured to and mounted 'l'or rotation with the shaft 1d is athrowing arni 19 on the iree end of which is pivotally mounted thetarget carrier 20.

rlhe carrier 20 may he of any approved design but is preferably in theiorrn oi a flat plate having a vertically disposed l'lange 2,1 on onelongitudinal edge thereof and one or more retaining pins or rollers 22extended vertically l'rorn the opposite longitudinal edge ol' the plate.The plate 2O is pivotally mounted at 23 on a block or support 24 carriedby the free end of the carrier arm, said carrier being yieldablyconnected with the throwing arm by means of a coiled spring 25, one endof which is secured to the throwing l arm,while the opposite end thereofis connected with the carrier at a point adjacent the pivot 23.

The throwing arm 19 is actuated b y the spring 16 to throw or sail thetargets or clay pigeons when the latch 26 is released, said arm making acomplete revolution.

Secured to the upper arm 8 of the supporting frame near the pivoted endof the latter are spaced guides 27 in which is slidably mounted thelatch 26, the free end of the latch being normally and yieldablysupported in the path of movement of the throwing arm, by means of acoiled spring 2S.

Secured to the forward end of the latch 26 is a spring plate or catch29, the free end of which is beveled so as to guide the adjacent end ofthe carrier arm into the socket formed by the plate or catch, thereby toloc-lr the arm in operative position.

The tensioning device 1S is preferably in the form of a pulley having aperipheral groove formed therein for the reception of an operating cordor chain 30, one end of the chain being secured to an anchoring lug orpin in the grooved face of the pulley, while the opposite end thereofpasses between a pair of idle rollers 31 on the rear end of thesupporting frame and is connected with the adjacent end of alongitudinally movable l rod 32. i

Secured to the upper surface of the pulley I 18 is a stop plate 33having a segmental slot 34 formed therein for the reception of screws orsimilarfastening devices 35, by means of ,l which the stop plate may befastened in posi- I tion on the pulley. l

Pivotally mounted at 36 on the upper arm 8 of the supporting frame isthe intermediate portion of a gravity actuated locking lever 37, theshort end of which is provided with a i i l i l I l trip lug 38, whilethe long end of the lever is arranged to bear against the stop plate 33and lock the pulley against rotation after the latter has expanded orplaced the spring 16 l under tension.

One end of the sto p plate is provided with i a square shoulder 39 forengagement with I the long end of the locking lever, while the oppositeend thereof is inclined. or beveled l at 4() so as to permit the same toreadily pass J beneath the adjacent end of the locking lever when thewheel is rotated to eilect the expansion of the spring, the long end ofthe lever 37 dropping by gravity in engagement with the shoulder 39 assoon as the stop plate is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2l of the drawings. l

A plate or shield 41 is secured to the sup- ,l porting frame andpartially encircles the l grooved face of the pulley, thereby to form aguard for the chain 30 and assist in preventing aecidental displacementof the same.

Mounted at the rear of the trap is a post or standard 42 having a seat43 upon which the operator may sit when operating the machine, therebeing spaced foot rests 44 extending laterally from the base of thestandard 6 so that the operator may rotate the supporting frame and thusdirect the flight of the clay pigeon or target. Arranged at Athe rear ofthe post 42 is a shorter post 45 having an arm 46 extending laterallytherefrom and on which is pivotally mounted a lever 47. The lower end'ofthe lever 47 is provided with an inwardly extending lug or linger 48,while the upper end thereof is secured to the adjacent end of a chain orcable 49, the opposite end of said chain or cable being connected withthe rear end ofthe sliding latch 26. Mounted for rocking movement on thelever 47 and preferably retained in position on said lever by the pivotpin 51 is an auxiliary lever 52, which latter extends in the path ofmovement of a trip pin or arm 50 extending laterally fromV the rod 32and is actuated by said trip arm or pin when the main operating lever 53is moved in the direction of the seat 43. The rear end of the rod 32 ispivotall'y connected with the operating lever 53, while the intermediateportion thereof bears against a roller 54 journaled in a suitablebracket carried by the post 45. A stop 54 is also preferably secured tothe end of the arm 46 for limiting the forward movement of the lever 47.

lt will thus be seen that when a rearward pull is exerted on the lever53 the cord or chain 30 will rotate the pulley 18 and place the spring16 under tension so that when the latch 26 is released, said spring willcause the throwing arm to describe a circle and thus discharge a targetfrom the carrier 20, the spring 25 serving to prevent injury to thecarrier when the latter is swung outwardly by centrifugal force duringthe movement of the throwing arm. 'l' his spring 25 also serves toimpart a slight vibratory movement to the carrier so as to spin the claypigeon or target and give the latter the desired curve or direction offlight. ,lt will also be observed that when the operating lever 53 ismoved in the direction of the seat 43 the pin 50 will come in Contactwith the auxiliary lever and cause the latter to bear against the lug 48thus moving the upper end of the lever 47 rearwardly and exerting alongitudinal pull on the chain or cable 49 to effect the release of thelatching mechanism. The pin 56 having passed under the lever 52 willallow the spring 28 to throw the latch 26 back in position to againengage the throwing arm, as will be readily understood.

The guides 27 are provided with depending pins or extensions 26 whichenter slots or erf/,eso

to prevent jar or injury to said latch and also to the target carrier.

1n operation a target or clay pigeon is placed on the carrier 2O and arearward movement iinparted to the lever 53 which rotates the Wheel 18and places the spring 16 under tension, in the manner before described.es the wheel 18 is rotated the inclined end oi the stop 33 will passunder the adjacent end of the lever 37 and elevate the latter' so as tocause said lever to bear against the shoulder 39 and loclr the wheelagainst rotation in a reverse direction. ln order to discharge the claypigeon or target irorn the carrier `forward inovenient is imparted tothe lever thus releasing the latch and allowing` the spring 16 toactua-te the throwing arin, which latter travels in the arc oi a circle,as before stated. As the throwing arin rotates, said arin will bearagainst the trip 38 and elevate the long end of the locking lever so asto disengage said lever frein the stop 33 and permit the pulley torotate to the position of starting shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings andin which position the spring' niay be again placed under tension byexerting a rearward pull on the lever 53, in the inanner beforedescribed.

The throwing arni 19 ina-lies a complete revolution at each operationoi' the device, the spring latcl'iing ineinber engaging and supportingthe iree end of the throwing arin in allinenient therewith after chcomplete movement oi said arin.

it will thus be seen that there is providec` a compara-tively siinpleand thoroughly etlicient trap in which but a single actuating spring isemployed for efiecting the inc-venient of the throwing arm.

Freni the foregoing description it is thought that the construction andoperation of the device will be readily understood hy those skilled inthe art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thusdescribed the invention what is clainied is:

1. ln a trap, a supporting traine, a throwing arin pivotally mounted onthe iran, e, a target carrier inounted on the throwing arin, atensioning elernent disposed at a point removed lroin the pivotal axisoi the throwing arni, a spring connecting the pivoted end oi thethrowing arin and tensioning elenient, ineans for rotating said eleinentto place the spring under tension, ineans ior locking the throwing' arinin operative position, and ineans ier releasing the locking i ieans.

2. ln a target trap, a supporting traine, a cranli shalt jonrnaled inthe iranie, a throwing arin secured to the crank shaft, a target carrieinounted on said arri, spring secured to the il; shaft, a tensioningelernent disposed at point rein ved 'l'roni the pivotal axis oi thethrowing arin and operatively connected .vith the spring, ineans i'orrotating said element to place the spring under tension, `means forloching the throwing arni in operative position, and means vlorreleasing the locking nieans.

ln a target trap, a base, a standard mounted 'l'oi' rotation on thebase, a supporting ,ie inounted ilor tilting rnoveinent on the standard,a target throwing arin pivotounted on the supporting traine, a

ally i tensioning device disposed at a point reoverl i'r in the pivot alaxis oi the throwing a spring connecting the pivoted end Oi throwingari-n and tensioning elenient, a r et carrier secured to the throwingarm, eens for rotating said elenient to place the l. throwing arm inoperative position, and nieans 'for releasing the locking means.

e. in a target trap, a supporting trarne, a throwing arin pivotallymounted on the traine, a target carrier inounted on the throwing arin, acranl arin journaled in the frana and llorining tie pivotal axis oi thethroY ring arin, a tensioning element disposed at a point removed tronithe pivotal axis ol' the throwing arin, a spring connecting thetensioning eleinent and the intermediate portion oi the cranh arin,nieans i'or rotating said element to place the spring under tension,ineans 'for locking the throwing arin in operative position, and ineansfor releasing the locking ineens.

5. ln a target tryp, a standard, a supporting vtrarne pivotally niountedi or tilting moveinent on the standard, a cra-nk shaft, a tensioningdevice mounted for rotation on the supporting irarne between the crankshaft and the pivoted end oi the traine, a spring connecting thetensioning element and crank shait, a target throwing arr rigidlysecured to and movable with the crank shaft, a target carrier inountedon the iree end of the throwing arin, ineans for locking the throwingarin in operative position, nieans i'or rotatin g said eleinent to placethe spring under tension, and ineans l'or releasing the locking ineans.

ln a target trap, supporting trarne, a throwing arin pivotally mountedon the supporting traine, a target carrier secured to the throwing arni,a tensioning elenient, a spring connecting the throwing arrn andtensioning p 'ing under tension, ineans Vfor locking the element, a stopcarried by the tensioning element, a locking lever pivotally mounted onthe frame and having one end thereof arranged to engage the stop and itsopposite end disposed in the path of movement of the throwing arm, meansfor locking the throwing arm in operative position, means for rotatingsaid element to place the spring under tension, and means for releasingthe locking means, said locking lever being disposed in the path ofmovement of the throwing arm and actuated by the latter to elevate thelever from engagement with the stop on the tensioning element.

7. In a target trap, a supporting frame, a

. crank shaft journaled in the frame, a throwing arm secured to andmounted for rotation with the crank shaft, a target carrier pivotallymounted on the throwing arm, a pulley journaled on the supporting frame,a spring connecting the crank shaft and pulley, a locking lever adaptedto engage the pulley for locking the latter against rotation, means forlocking the throwing arm in operative position, and means for rotatingthe pulley to effect the tension of the spring, said throwing arm beingarranged to disengage the locking lever from the pulley.

8. In a target trap, a supporting frame, a throwing arm pivotallymounted on the frame, a tensioning device disposed at a point removedfrom the pivotal axis of the throwing arm, a power spring connecting thetensioning device and the pivoted end of the throwin arm, a targetcarrier pivotally mounted on the throwing arm, a spring connecting thetarget carrier and throwing arm, means for locking the throwing arm inoperative position, means for rotating said element to effect thetension of the power spring, and means for releasing the locking means.

9. In a target trap, a standard, a supporting frame pivotally mounted onthe standard and including spaced bars, a crank shaft journaled in saidbars, a throwing arm rigidly secured to one end ofthe crank shaft, atarget carrier mounted on the free end of the throwing arm, a verticalshaft spaced from the crank shaft, a pulley mounted for rotation on thevertical shaft, a spring connecting the pulley and crank shaft, meansfor locking the throwing arm in operative position, means for rotatingthe pulley to place the spring under tension, and means for releasingthe locking means.

10. In a target trap, a base, a revoluble standard mounted on the base,a supporting frame mounted for tilting movement in the standard, meansfor locking the supporting frame in adjusted position, a crank shaftjournaled in the supporting frame, athrowing arm rigidly secured to oneend of the crank shaft, a target carrier mounted on the throwing arm,means for locking the throwing arm in operative (position, a pulleyjournaled on the frame an provided with a dependingpin, a power springconnecting the pin and crank shaft, a slotted stop plate secured to theupper face of the pulley, means for rotating the pulley to place thespring under tension, a gravity actuated locking member arranged toengage the stop plate for locking the pulley against rotation, means forreleasing the throwing arm, said locking lever being actuated byengagement with the throwing arm to release the pulley.

11. In a target trap, a supporting frame, a throwing arm mounted forrotation on the frame, a target carrier mounted on the throwing arm, aspring actuated latch adapted to engage the throwing arm for locking thelatter in operative position, a tensioning device, a power springconnecting the tension device and throwing arm, an operating lever, arod connected with the operating lever, a flexible connection betweenthe tensioning device and rod, a latch operating lever, a flexibleconnection between the latch o erating lever and latch, and meanscarried gy the rod and adapted to actuate the latch operating lever torelease said latch.

l2. In a target trap, a supporting frame, a crank shaft j ournaled inthe'frame, a throwing arm secured tothe crank shaft, a target carriermounted on the throwing arm, a pulley j ournaled on the frame, a springconnecting the pulley and crank shaft, a latch disposed in the path ofmovement of the throwing arm for locking the latter in operativeposition, a main operating leverfor rotating the pulley to effect thetension of the power spring, a rod pivotally connected with theoperating lever, a flexible connection between the pulley and rod,pivotally connecting latch operating levers arranged in advance of themain operating lever and operatively connected with the latch, a pincarried by the rod and adapted to bear against one of said latchoperating levers for actuatin(T the other to release the latch, anadjustable stop secured to the upper face of the pulley, and a lockinglever arranged to bear against the stov for locking the pulley againstrotation, sai locking lever being disposed in the path of movement ofthe throwmg arm and actuated by the latter to release the pulley.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses. Y

JNO. A. CRENSHAW.

Witnesses:

E. W. CRnNsHAw, H, J CRENsHAW.

